For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. - Matthew 25:35

2015-2020 Project: Kenya-Tanzania-Ethiopia

Improving the productivity of smallholder farmers in Africa is both the biggest challenge and greatest opportunity of addressing hunger and poverty on the continent. We will provide help by providing training, technical assistance and support for poor, small-scale farmers who want to adopt conservation agriculture to increase the productivity and profitability to their farms. This will be done by introducing:

Use of green manures/cover crops

Deep and ripping tillage for planting furrows

Strategic use of farmyard manure and compost

Seed selection and grain storage

Post-harvest management, storage and handling techniques

Nutrition and food habit improvement counselling

We will also support the formation of Village Savings and Loads groups that assist members to build up assets needed to enhance farming inputs. Click here to learn more about the need in Kenya, Tanzania, and Ethiopia.

How Kernels of Hope Works

Canadian Covenant farmers in several provinces donate their time to grow wheat and canola crops on a portion of their land set aside to be “purchased” by virtual farmer donors. Those donations pay the costs of rent, seed, chemicals, insurance, and custom work.

When the crops are sold, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) matches the grain sales revenue on a four-to-one ratio to reach the final donation amount. That money is distributed to the intended recipients through the Canadian Food Grains Bank and Tearfund Canada (previously World Relief Canada).

Previous to 2011, money from the Kernels project was used to provide implements and other needed supplies to farmers in South Sudan and Liberia. Ray "The Grain Guy" Baloun leads the Kernels initiative.

A gift to Kernels for Hope makes a great gift for someone else!

Need a gift idea for someone? Make them a virtual farmer!

Make a donation and include a request for one of the below inserts. We can either send them to you to give as a gift, or mail the insert directly to the person who's name the donation has been made in.

You may also email office(a)covchurch.ca to arrange one of these gifts.

Donate Today!

Become a virtual farmer today by donating online.

Or contribute by sending a cheque to the ECCC. Please make cheque out to the ECCC, and include 'Kernels' in the memo. Address can be found in the 'Contact Us' page.